Chapter 7

Question 1

The degree to which scores on the measuring instrument correlate with another known standard for measuring the variable being studied.

Answer 1

Concurrent validity

Question 2

An error that occurs when the value of an extraneous variable changes systematically along with the independent variable in an experiment; an alternative explanation for the findings that threatens internal validity.

Answer 2

Confounding

Question 3

The degree to which an operational definition accurately represents the construct it is intended to manipulate or measure.

Answer 3

Construct validity

Question 4

The degree to which the content of a measure reflects the content of what is being measured.

Answer 4

Content validity

Question 5

The specific behavior that a researcher tries to explain in an experiment; the variable that is measured.

Answer 5

Dependent variable (DV)

Question 6

The explanation of the meaning of independent variables; defines exactly what was done to create the various treatment conditions of the experiment.

Answer 6

Experimental operational definition

Question 7

A variable other than an independent or dependent variable; a variable that is not the focus of an experiment but can produce effects on the dependent variable if not controlled.

Answer 7

Extraneous variable

Question 8

The degree to which a manipulation or measurement technique is self-evident.

Answer 8

Face validity

Question 9

A threat to internal validity in which an outside event or occurrence might have produced effects on the dependent variable.

Answer 9

History threat

Question 10

Concepts used to explain unseen processes, such as hunger, intelligence, or learning; postulated to explain observable behavior.

Answer 10

Hypothetical construct

Question 11

The variable (antecedent condition) that the experimenter intentionally manipulates.

Answer 11

Independent variable (IV)

Question 12

A threat to internal validity produced by changes in the measuring instrument itself.

Answer 12

Instrumentation threat

Question 13

The degree to which different items measuring the same variable attain consistent results.

Answer 13

Interitem reliability

Question 14

The certainty that the changes behavior observed across treatment conditions in the experiment were actually caused by the independent variable.

Answer 14

Internal validity

Question 15

The degree of agreement among different observers or raters.

Answer 15

Interrater reliability

Question 16

The type of scale of measurement—either ratio, interval, ordinal, or nominal—used to measure a variable.

Answer 16

Level of measurement

Question 17

The two or more values of the independent variable manipulated by the experimenter.

Answer 17

Levels of the independent variable

Question 18

An assessment to determine whether the independent variable was manipulated successfully.

Answer 18

Manipulation check

Question 19

A threat to internal validity produced by internal (physical or psychological) changes in subjects.

Answer 19

Maturation threat

Question 20

The description of exactly how a variable in an experiment is measured.

Answer 20

Measured operational definition

Question 21

The section of a research report in which the subjects and experiment are described in enough detail that the experiment may be replicated by others; it is typically divided into subsections, such as Participants, Apparatus or Materials, and Procedures.

Answer 21

Method

Question 22

The specification of the precise meaning of a variable within an experiment; defines a variable in terms of observable operations, procedures, and measurements.

Answer 22

Operational definition

Question 23

The degree to which a measuring instrument yields information allowing prediction of actual behavior or performance.

Answer 23

Predictive validity

Question 24

The consistency and dependability of experimental procedures and measurements.

Answer 24

Reliability

Question 25

A family of threats to internal validity produced when a selection threat combines with one or more of the other threats to internal validity; when a selection threat is already present, other threats can affect some experimental groups but not others.

Answer 25

Selection interactions

Question 26

A threat to internal validity that can occur when nonrandom procedures are used to assign subjects to conditions or when random assignment fails to balance out differences among subjects across the different conditions of the experiment.

Answer 26

Selection threat

Question 27

A threat to internal validity that can occur when subjects are assigned to conditions on the basis of extreme scores on a test; upon retest, the scores of extreme scorers tend to regress toward the mean even without any treatment.

Answer 27

Statistical regression threat

Question 28

A threat to internal validity produced by differences in dropout rates across the conditions of the experiment.

Answer 28

Subject mortality threat

Question 29

A threat to internal validity produced by a previous administration of the same test or other measure.

Answer 29

Testing threat

Question 30

Consistency between an individual’s scores on the same test taken at two or more different times.

Answer 30

Test-retest reliability

Question 31

The soundness of an operational definition; in experiments, the principle of actually studying the variables intended to be manipulated or measured.

Answer 31

Validity